332 Mr. Macglllivray's Account of iU Outer Hebrides. 



a mile in breadth, and of an elliptical form. It is to appearance a 

 mass of rock much inclined, with the northern part dipping into 

 the water, and the southern exhibiting an abrupt section, rising to 

 the height of several hundred feet. On a sort of peninsula jutting 

 out from the face of this frightful precipice, are the remains of a 

 rude fortification, in the form of a wall laid across its isthmus. It 

 is of considerable height, and,, like others in the Long Island, has 

 an empty space within the wall, probably used for the habitation of 

 its owners, while their cattle occupied the space inclosed. The face 

 of this vast mass of rock, viewed from the sea, exhibits a very inte- 

 resting and grand spectacle. It aifords almost all the variety of 

 which such is capable: inclining, perpendicular, and projecting cliffs, 

 smooth, largely cleft, or minutely fissured ; in one place a huge pro- 

 truded mass, in another a retiring cove, terminating above in a per- 

 pendicular fissure, below in a gloomy Cavern. The whole face of 

 these cliffs, over an extent of half a mile, was covered with birds, 

 which assemble here for the purpose of breeding. Four species 

 only are found : Cohjmbns Troik, Alca Torda, Alca arctica, and 

 Larus Rissu. These inhabit the cliffs, not promiscuously, but with 

 a degree of regularity and seclusion, which might bring to the mind 

 of an observer the right of property among mankind. On the grassy 

 summits, the Alca arctica breeds, burrowing bike the rabbit. From 

 thence to halfway down is the habitation of the Alca Torda ; while 

 in the remaining division are arranged the Co'ymbus Troile and 

 Larus Rissa, the latter coming almost to high water mark. The 

 auk and guillemot have each one egg, and this laid upon the bare 

 rock. On a shelf of about two yards in length and as many feet in 

 breadth, I have seen at least threescore birds, crammed together as 

 closely as they could sit, and each upon its own egg. This occur- 

 red very frequently, the shelves being greater or smaller. But in 

 general two, or three, or four, were seen together, and sometimes 

 one was seen sitting solitary, if one may say so, when it was sur- 

 rounded with others at no greater distance than three or four feet 

 at farthest. The gull, on the other hand, has a regularly constructed 

 nest, made of grass and sea-weeds, and fixed to the rock with clay 

 or mud, in which there are generally three eggs. This, I believe, 

 is the most numerous species. In many places the rock appeared 

 white with them. In fact the numbers of all the species Avere 

 astonishing. When a shot was fired, most of the birds left their 

 nests and flew about, while some, in their hurry, fell into the sea, 

 and on emerging raised with their wings an uninterrupted splutter 

 for some hundred yards from the shore. Looking up, I could 

 scarcely distinguish the white clouds from the blue sky, so thickly 

 did the birds fly, and this over an extent of a quarter of a square 

 mile at a time. In their flight they did not cross much, but flew 

 generally in the same direction, wheeling in a large circle. This 

 disposition probably arose from their number being so great that 

 they could not conveniently pass each other. Their mingling screams 



